Extended and editable gamer profile

ABSTRACT

A user profile for an online gaming service is created. The user profile contains user gaming information received from a first location. The user profile is stored in a database, and the user is permitted to access the user profile from a second location.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/335,960 filed on Jan. 20, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,118,678 issuedFeb. 21, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

This application is related by subject matter to that which is disclosedin the following commonly assigned application: U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/350,490, filed on Jan. 13, 2012 and entitled “Extended andEditable Gamer Profile,” the entirety of which is hereby incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND

Historically, a user's interaction with a game console has been specificto the game being played. For example, some games provide a profilefeature in which the user can store preferences, settings and otherinformation. If the user plays a different game, the preferences andsettings need to be entered again, as the profile does not transferacross games.

In online gaming, a multimedia console user has a gamer profile that isspecific to the console on which the user plays. When the user plays agame on the console, the user profile information for those games isstored locally. Thus, whenever the user plays an online game on theconsole, the gamer profile is accessible to each game. Unfortunately,when the user visits a website associated with an online gaming service,they cannot view, access or contribute to the locally-stored profile. Inaddition, a user cannot use other devices, such as a Personal DigitalAssistant (PDA) or cellular telephone to view, access and/or contributeto their gamer profile, either through the web site or through otherchannels by which the online gaming service may be accessed.

Thus, conventional methods and systems currently lack the ability toenable a user to store a gamer profile in such a manner that the gamerprofile remains accessible to the user regardless of the location fromwhich the user accesses the gamer profile

SUMMARY

In view of the above shortcomings and drawbacks, methods,computer-readable media and systems are provided that provide useraccess to a user profile. In one such method, a user profile for anonline gaming service is created. The user profile contains user gaminginformation received from a first location. The user profile is storedin a database, and the user is permitted to access the user profile froma second location.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing Summary, as well as the following detailed description ofthe various embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunctionwith the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating suchembodiments, there is shown in the drawings example constructions ofvarious embodiments; however, such embodiments are not limited to thespecific methods and instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example computer network environment in whichaspects of an embodiment may be implemented;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example console that can beincorporated into a network computing environment such as the networkcomputing environment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example system of allowing a game application tocommunicate with an online gaming service;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example system of providing an integrated gamerprofile across an online gaming service, gaming World Wide Web (web)site and multiple devices; and

FIG. 5 is a system and flow diagram that illustrates an example creationand maintenance of an integrated gamer profile across an online gamingservice, gaming web site and multiple devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The subject matter of the described embodiments is described withspecificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the descriptionitself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, theinventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might alsobe embodied in other ways, to include different steps or elementssimilar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction withother present or future technologies. Moreover, although the term “step”may be used herein to connote different aspects of methods employed, theterm should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among orbetween various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the orderof individual steps is explicitly described.

Overview

In one embodiment, user profile information, such as a gamer profile, isstored in an online gaming service database that is accessible to a userfrom at least two locations. The gamer profile may include any type ofinformation that is relevant for gaming, and may include text, an image,audio or video information or the like. Such information may be storedin any manner. For example, the information may be stored as data fieldswithin a database record. Non-limiting examples of different locationsfrom which a user may access the gamer profile are a game console/PC,web site, remote device (such as, for example, a PDA or cellulartelephone) or the like. Thus, according to an embodiment, a user isprovided with a gamer profile that can be used across games, as well asacross locations and devices.

Example Embodiments

FIG. 1 is diagram of an example computer network in which aspects of anembodiment may be implemented. Here computers 100 a-100 e may hostvarious computing objects such as games or other applications. Althoughthe physical environment shows the connected devices as computers, suchillustration is merely for explanation and may comprise various digitaldevices such as PDAs, game consoles, cellular telephones, etc. Moreover,communications network 160 may itself comprise a number of computers,servers and network devices such as routers and the like.

There are a variety of systems, components, and network configurationsthat support distributed computing environments. For example, computingsystems may be connected together by wireline or wireless systems, bylocal networks or widely distributed networks. Currently, many of suchnetworks are coupled to the Internet, which provides the infrastructurefor widely distributed computing and may encompass many differentnetworks. Aspects of various embodiments could be usable to distributecomputer-readable instructions, code fragments, applications, and thelike, to various distributed computing devices.

The network infrastructure enables a host of network topologies such asclient/server, peer-to-peer, or hybrid architectures. The “client” is amember of a class or group that uses the services of another class orgroup to which it is not related. Thus, in computing, a client may be aprocess (i.e., a set of instructions or tasks) that requests a serviceprovided by another program. The client process utilizes the requestedservice without having to “know” any working details about the otherprogram or the service itself. In a client/server architecture,particularly a networked system, a client is usually a computer thataccesses shared network resources provided by another computer (i.e., aserver). A server may be a remote computer system accessible over aremote network such as, for example, the Internet. The client processmay be active in a first computer system, and the server process may beactive in a second computer system, communicating with one another overa communications medium, thus providing distributed functionality andallowing multiple clients to take advantage of the information-gatheringcapabilities of the server.

Clients and servers may communicate with one another using thefunctionality provided by a protocol layer. For example,Hypertext-Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a common protocol that is used inconjunction with the World Wide Web (WWW). A computer network addresssuch as a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or an Internet Protocol (IP)address may be used to identify the server or client computers to eachother. Communication among computing devices may be provided over acommunications medium. In particular, the client and server may beoperatively coupled to one another by way of TCP/IP connections forhigh-capacity communication.

In general, the computer network may comprise both server devices andclient devices deployed in a network environment (in a peer-to-peerenvironment devices may be both clients and servers). Communicationsnetwork 160 may be a LAN, WAN, intranet or the Internet, or anycombination thereof that facilitates communication among a number ofcomputing devices 100 a-100 e. Moreover, communication network 160 maycomprise wireless, wireline or a combination of wireless and wirelineconnections. Additionally, the computer network may comprise adistributed computing environment. In such an environment, a computingtask may be spread over a number of computing devices that areaddressable elements in a computer network.

According to an embodiment, communication network 160 may host a service150 that is accessible from the plurality of computers 100 a-100 e.Service 150 gathers information and tracks users of computers 100 a-100e to provide computing services for all of the users of service 150.

FIG. 2 illustrates functional components of a multimedia/gaming console100 that may be used as computers 100 a-100 e in the network of FIG. 1.Multimedia console 100 has central processing unit (CPU) 101 havinglevel 1 cache 102, level 2 cache 104 and flash ROM (Read Only Memory)106. Level 1 cache 102 and level 2 cache 104 temporarily store data andhence reduce the number of memory access cycles, thereby improvingprocessing speed and throughput. CPU 101 may be provided having morethan one core, and thus, additional level 1 and level 2 caches 102 and104. Flash ROM 106 may store executable code that is loaded during aninitial phase of a boot process when multimedia console 100 is poweredON, for example.

Graphics processing unit (GPU) 108 and video encoder/video codec(coder/decoder) 114 form a video processing pipeline for high speed andhigh resolution graphics processing. Data is carried from graphicsprocessing unit 108 to video encoder/video codec 114 via a bus. Thevideo processing pipeline outputs data to A/V (audio/video) port 140 fortransmission to a television or other display. Memory controller 110 isconnected to GPU 108 to facilitate processor access to various types ofmemory 112, such as, but not limited to, a RAM (Random Access Memory).

Multimedia console 100 may also include I/O controller 120, systemmanagement controller 122, audio processing unit 123, network interfacecontroller 124, first USB host controller 126, second USB controller 128and front panel I/O subassembly 130 that are preferably implemented onmodule 118. USB controllers 126 and 128 serve as hosts for peripheralcontrollers 142(1)-142(2), wireless adapter 148, and external memorydevice 146 (e.g., flash memory, external CD/DVD ROM drive, removablemedia, etc.). Network interface 124 and/or wireless adapter 148 provideaccess to a network (e.g., the Internet, home network, etc.) and may beany of a wide variety of various wired or wireless adapter componentsincluding an Ethernet card, a modem, a Bluetooth module, a cable modemand the like.

System memory 143 may be provided to store application data that isloaded during the boot process. Media drive 144 is provided and maycomprise a DVD/CD drive, hard drive, or other removable media drive,etc. Media drive 144 may be internal or external to multimedia console100. Application data may be accessed via media drive 144 for execution,playback, etc. by multimedia console 100. Media drive 144 may beconnected to I/O controller 120 via a bus, such as a Serial ATA bus orother high speed connection (e.g., IEEE 1394 or the like).

System management controller 122 provides a variety of service functionsrelated to assuring availability of multimedia console 100. Audioprocessing unit 123 and audio codec 132 form a corresponding audioprocessing pipeline with high fidelity and stereo processing. Audio datais carried between audio processing unit 123 and audio codec 132 via acommunication link. The audio processing pipeline outputs data to A/Vport 140 for reproduction by an external audio player or device havingaudio capabilities.

Front panel I/O subassembly 130 supports the functionality of powerbutton 150 and eject button 152, as well as any LEDs (light emittingdiodes) or other indicators exposed on the outer surface of multimediaconsole 100. System power supply module 136 provides power to thecomponents of multimedia console 100. Fan 138 cools the circuitry withinmultimedia console 100.

CPU 101, GPU 108, memory controller 110 and various other componentswithin multimedia console 100 may be interconnected via one or morebuses, including serial and parallel buses, a memory bus, a peripheralbus, and a processor or local bus using any of a variety of busarchitectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architecturescan include a Peripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus, PCI-Expressbus, etc.

When multimedia console 100 is powered ON, application data may beloaded from system memory 143 into memory 112 and/or caches 102 and 104and executed on CPU 101. The application may present a graphical userinterface that provides a consistent user experience when navigating todifferent media types available on multimedia console 100. In operation,applications and/or other media contained within media drive 144 may belaunched or played from media drive 144 to provide additionalfunctionalities to multimedia console 100.

Multimedia console 100 may be operated as a standalone system byconnecting the system to a television or other display. In thisstandalone mode, multimedia console 100 may allow one or more users tointeract with the system, watch movies, or listen to music. However,with the integration of broadband connectivity made available throughnetwork interface 124 or wireless adapter 148, multimedia console 100may further be operated as a participant in the larger network communityas illustrated in FIG. 1.

According to an embodiment, when a game is executed on console 100, itprovides information to online gaming service 150 operating oncommunications network 160. Online gaming service 150 may be any type ofhardware and/or software that can be used to perform the tasks disclosedherein. For example, in one embodiment, online gaming service 150 may beprovided by one or more software applications running on one or morecomputing devices, such as a server. Online gaming service 150 may trackthe information for all of the users connected to online gaming service150 to provide a rich user experience. Online gaming service 150 maytrack user information across games, consoles, computing devices, etc.By tracking the information for all users of online gaming service 150,online gaming service 150 can aggregate statistics for all users andmeasure game playing ability, provide a richer user experience byproviding information about friends (e.g., what game they are playingand what skill level they have attained), track user achievements andgenerally measure statistics for a game aggregated over a large usercommunity.

To provide a consistent data set across games, an embodimentcontemplates a schema driven process where each game generates a schemathat defines the game data for a particular game. Through a gameconfiguration process, games use a service-defined schema to describethe data the game generates about each game player. By using theconfiguration process, online gaming service 150 can understand the dataas it flows from the game, and it will be able to integrate the data inmeaningful ways with the other data that online gaming service 150understands to create an online profile of each user of the onlinegaming service. The profile will follow the user wherever he or she goeson online gaming service 150, i.e., it is game and location independent.Some of the profile, in fact, may be viewable by every user of onlinegaming service 150. It will be appreciated that in one embodiment theprofile may be created by a user during, for example, a sign in orregistration process with online gaming service 150, as will bediscussed below in connection with FIGS. 4-5. A user may perform such asign in or registration by way of, for example, game console/PC 100, website or other device such as a PDA, cellular telephone or the like.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example process that allows a game developer toconfigure a game for use with online gaming service 150. In the exampleof FIG. 3, game developer 301 wants to create a game for use with onlinegaming service 150 by user 302. To that end, developer 301 provides aset of game configuration data 304 that will be shared with onlinegaming service 150. The output from the use of the tool may be, forexample, a set of API header files 306 that are included with the gameto communicate with online gaming service 150 and a set of XML files 308that define the schema of the data to be shared with online gamingservice 150. Game developer 301 then burns game disk 310 or creates agame program that contains the game code instrumented with APIs 306 andXML schema files 308 (or an equivalent representation). XML files 308may also be communicated to online gaming service 150 so that onlinegaming service 150 can use the data output from the game to updateonline user profile 312 for user 302 when user 302 uses game 310 online,for example.

When user 302 uses game 310 without a network connection, informationmay be collected and stored in the user's offline profile in a harddrive or memory unit 316. Thereafter, when user 302 connects to onlinegaming service 150, the online and offline profile may be synchronized.User 302 can then view profile information locally 318, i.e., on console100 or PC or log on to online gaming service 150 and view user profile314, or may access online gaming service 150 via another connecteddevice. Also, as explained in further detail below, the user may be ableto log on to a gaming web site to view the integrated online gamerprofile or create it on the web site for the first time.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example system of providing an integrated gamerprofile 312 across an online gaming service 150, gaming web site 402,and multiple connected devices, for example, such as a game console orPC 100, or any connected device 410 running a web browser 404.Alternatively, device 410 may access online gaming service 150 or evenonline gaming service database(s) 406 directly, without the need tointeract or pass through gaming web site 402. User 302 can usecredentials received from creating an online profile with the onlinegaming service 150 to log onto a gaming web site or other web sites 402using any web browser 404. The web browser 404 may be running on thegame console/PC 100, or any device connected to the Internet. However,the use of the Internet is provided as an example, as othercommunication and computer networks besides the Internet may be used tocommunicate and modify user profile data 408 (which may be transmittedthrough any of the double-ended arrows that interconnect the objectsdepicted in FIG. 4) as described herein.

Gaming web site 402 may have online profile information for that usercreated from online gaming service 150 to create an online integratedprofile to present at web site 402. This is because both web site 402and online gaming service 150 may be operatively connected (for example,over a network 160 as shown in FIG. 1) to a central/synchronized onlinegaming service database 406 that stores and synchronizes user profiledata 408 received from any of online gaming service 150, web site 402,game console/PC 100 or any connected device 410.

While any of game console/PC 100, web browser 404 or device 410 are inoperative communication with online gaming service database(s) 406, suchdevices 100, 404 or 410 may periodically synchronize with online gamingservice database(s) 406 to maintain an up-to-date integrated gamerprofile. Such updating may occur dynamically, at user request, atpredetermined intervals or the like. The manner of updating may be thesame or different for any of devices 100, 404 or 410. In an embodiment,a single user may have more than one profile stored in online gamingservice database(s) 406, or more than one user having a profile may use,for example, game console/PC 100. In such an embodiment, the updating orsynchronization may update or synchronize more than one profile at atime. For example, a user having more than one profile may update someor all of the user's profiles in a single online session.

Online gaming service database 406 may in turn be operatively connectedto repository 420 or foreign language lookup table 422. Repository 420may be internal or external to online gaming service database 406 andmay contain additional data that may be presented to a user. Forexample, in an embodiment a user may store any type of data (e.g.,images, audio, video, etc.) in the user's online integrated profile.Because some of such data can be large, maintaining such data in onlinegaming service database 406 may adversely affect performance. Thus, inan embodiment a marker, tag, address or the like may be stored inconnection with the online integrated profile in online gaming servicedatabase 406, where the tag points to the data stored in repository 420.When online gaming service database 406 is to present aspects of theonline integrated profile to the user, if the data is required the tagmay be used to locate the data in repository 420, which may then servethe data to online gaming service database 406. Online gaming service150 may then present the data to the user via web site 402, gameconsole/PC 100 or device 410, for example.

Foreign language lookup table 422 may be internal or external to onlinegaming service database 406. Foreign language lookup table 422 mayinclude, for example, information that permits at least a rudimentaryautomated language translation of information stored in an onlineintegrated profile, for example. Foreign language lookup table 422 mayenable free-text translation or may be restricted to predefined datafields. For example, in one embodiment, some or all text information maybe stored within the online profile in such predefined data fields.Translations for such data fields for one or more additional languagesmay be obtained and stored in foreign language lookup table 422. Afteraccessing foreign language lookup table 422, online gaming service 150may then present the translated profile information to the user via website 402, game console/PC 100 or device 410, for example. Thus, in anembodiment users that speak different languages may be able to viewaspects of an online integrated profile regardless of the correspondinguser's native language.

Referring next to FIG. 5, shown is an example system and flow diagramthat illustrates the creation and maintenance of an integrated gamerprofile across an online gaming service 150, gaming web site 402, andone or more connected devices 410. For example, user 302 may createintegrated gamer profile starting from game console/PC 100, web site 402and/or a connected device 410. In the case of starting from gameconsole/PC 100, for example, user 302 may first create an offline gamerprofile 502 that can be stored locally on a hard drive or memory unit304 as described above with reference to FIG. 3, for example. User 302can play games, earn achievements, get high scores, etc. and edit 506any or all of such information locally from game console/PC 100.

It will be appreciated that, in an embodiment, all fields within gamerprofile 502, either before or after such profile 502 is stored 510 inonline gaming service database(s) 406, as will be discussed below, maybe editable from any device (e.g., game console/PC 100, web site 402and/or a connected device 410). In another embodiment, one or morefields may specify the type of device from which edits will be accepted.Alternatively, such fields, or another component of profile 502, mayspecify user's 302 location such that user 302 must be at a specifiedlocation to edit a particular field. Alternatively, such fields mayspecify the device from which user 302 must access profile 502 to edit aparticular field. Any number, type or combination of restrictions may beput in place with respect to one or more fields in profile 502. If user302 has already signed up for the online gaming service, such edits maybe stored 511 in the integrated gamer profile stored in online gamingservice database(s) 406.

User 302 may then sign up 508 for online gaming service 150 and thatoffline gamer profile is now stored 510 as integrated gamer profile andis made available by central/synchronized online gaming servicedatabase(s) 406, making any or all of the games played, achievements,scores and the like available to any other user that is a member of theonline gaming service. Additionally, the other members of the onlinegaming service can submit feedback 512 about that user 302, helping tobuild the user's reputation 514 within the gaming community.

Due to the integrated gamer profile information that is stored in onlinegaming service database(s) 406, user 302 can sign in 530 to the onlinegaming service using any of game console/PC 100, gaming web site 402 orconnected device 410. To access the online gaming service, user 302 maysign-in to the service using credentials, such as a user name andpassword, (e.g., using Microsoft® Passport or the like) that may havebeen created when creating 508 the online gaming service account. Theservice may allow access the service or profile 502 when, for example,the credentials are verified. Once access has been granted, user 302 mayretrieve or save 522 the integrated gamer profile. Likewise, user 302may edit 516 the user's preferences, upload personalized information(e.g., text, an image, video, audio or the like), or perform otheractivities with respect to the integrated gamer profile. In addition,user 302 may edit 518 a profile associated with a forum, or othersettings related to the online gaming service account, or otherwiseread/write 520 to the integrated gamer profile.

Such retrieving or saving 522, or read/write 520 may take place usinglive cache 540. Live cache 540 may be a mechanism that is internal orexternal to online gaming service database(s) 406 and may communicate541 with online gaming service database(s) 406. In such an embodiment,live cache 540 stores a recently-requested information such as, forexample, integrated gamer profile information. Such information may bestored for a predetermined amount of time, a dynamically-determinedamount of time, or for any other duration using any manner ofmeasurement. Thus, when live cache 540 determines that requestedinformation is stored within (or is accessible to) live cache 540, livecache 540 returns the information without accessing online gamingservice database(s) 406. When such requested information is not storedwithin or accessible to live cache 540, live cache 540 communicates 541with online gaming service database(s) 406 to retrieve the requestedinformation. In such a manner, live cache 540 may speed up the servicingof requests to access integrated gamer profile information.

Anything that happens around the user 302, whether it is on theconsole/PC 100 or on the gaming web site 402, may be stored 510, 511,512, 520 or 522 to central/synchronized online gaming servicedatabase(s) 406, enabling one integrated gamer profile that user 302from either the console/PC 100, web site 402 or other connected device410 can view and interact with while also allowing user 302 to maintainone identity. Such storing 510, 511, 512, 520 or 522 may, as discussedabove in connection with FIG. 4, occur at user 302 request, atpredetermined intervals or the like, and may involve any number ofprofiles 502 for any number of users 302. At any point, a game or otherprocess of the online gaming service may access the profile data for anypurpose such as, for example, conducting an online or locally-executedgame, providing a user forum, etc.

The various techniques described herein may be implemented with hardwareor software or, where appropriate, with a combination of both. Thus, themethods and apparatus of the various embodiments, or certain aspects orportions thereof, may take the form of program code (i.e., instructions)embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, harddrives, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when theprogram code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as acomputer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing an embodiment.In the case of program code execution on programmable computers, thecomputer will generally include a processor, a storage medium readableby the processor (including volatile and non-volatile memory and/orstorage elements), at least one input device and at least one outputdevice. One or more programs are preferably implemented in a high levelprocedural or object oriented programming language to communicate with acomputer system. However, the program(s) can be implemented in assemblyor machine language, if desired. In any case, the language may be acompiled or interpreted language, and combined with hardwareimplementations.

The described embodiments may also be implemented in the form of programcode that is transmitted over some transmission medium, such as overelectrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any otherform of transmission, wherein, when the program code is received andloaded into and executed by a machine, such as an EPROM, a gate array, aprogrammable logic device (PLD), a client computer, a video recorder orthe like, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the variousembodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, theprogram code combines with the processor to provide a unique apparatusthat operates to perform the functionality of the various embodiments.

While the embodiments have been described in connection with theembodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that otherembodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made tothe described embodiments for performing the same functions of suchembodiments without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the invention shouldnot be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construedin breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A method for providing user access to an online userprofile of an online gaming service, the method comprisingcomputer-implemented operations of: receiving, at a third computingdevice and from a first computing device, data indicative of anachievement having been earned corresponding to the user profile, theachievement having been earned locally at the first computing devicewhile the first computing device was not logged into the online gamingservice provided by the third computing device; modifying, by the thirdcomputing device, the online user profile for the online gaming serviceto reflect the achievement having been earned; storing the online userprofile in a database; and in response to receiving a request from theuser at a second computing device to access the online user profile,sending the user an indication of the online user profile at the secondcomputing device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said modifying isresponsive to a user registration with the online gaming service.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said sending comprises sending the user anindication that the online user profile has been edited in response toan indication of editing received from the second computing device. 4.The method of claim 3, wherein said sending the user an indication thatthe online user profile has been edited comprises: determining thatediting the online user profile from the second computing device ispermissible based on a field of the online user profile.
 5. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: receiving user gaming information for afirst game from the first computing device; and storing an indication ofthe user gaming information in the online user profile as at least onedata field, and wherein said at least one data field comprises a tag,wherein said tag indicates a location of data stored in a repository. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein said modifying comprises receiving usergaming information for a first game from an offline user profile storedat the first computing device.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst computing device comprises a personal computer, a gaming console,a web site, a personal digital assistant, or a cellular telephone. 8.The method of claim 7, wherein the second computing device comprises adifferent one of a personal computer, a gaming console, a web site, apersonal digital assistant, or a cellular telephone.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the online user profile comprises user gaminginformation of a first game, the user gaming information including atleast one from a set, the set comprising text information, an image,audio information and video information.
 10. The method of claim 1,wherein the user is a first user, and further comprising: sending anindication of the online user profile of the first user to a seconduser.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: detecting a firstlanguage associated with the online user profile of the first user and asecond language associated with the second user; detecting a second userselection of a data field within the online user profile of the firstuser; accessing a lookup table to convert the data field to the secondlanguage; and in response to receiving a request to access the datafield from the second user, sending the second user an indication of theconverted data field.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein said sendingcomprises receiving at least one user credential and sending said userthe indication of the online user profile upon verifying the at leastone user credential.
 13. A system for providing user access to an onlineuser profile of an online gaming service, the system comprising: aprocessor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, thememory bearing processor-executable instructions that, when executed onthe processor, cause the system at least to: receive, from a firstcomputing device, data indicative of an achievement having been earnedcorresponding to the user profile, the achievement having been earnedlocally at the first computing device while the first computing devicewas not logged into an online gaming service provided by a thirdcomputing device; modify the online user profile for the online gamingservice to reflect the achievement having been earned; store the onlineuser profile in a database; and in response to receiving a request fromthe user at a second computing device to access the online user profile,send the user an indication of the online user profile at the secondcomputing device.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the memory furtherbears processor-executable instructions that, when executed on theprocessor, cause the system at least to: receive user gaming informationfor a first game from the first computing device; and store anindication of the user gaming information in the online user profile asat least one data field, and wherein said at least one data fieldcomprises a tag, wherein said tag indicates a location of data stored ina repository.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the user is a firstuser, and wherein the memory further bears processor-executableinstructions that, when executed on the processor, cause the system atleast to: send an indication of the online user profile of the firstuser to a second user; detect a first language associated with theonline user profile of the first user and a second language associatedwith the second user; detect a second user selection of a data fieldwithin the online user profile of the first user; access a lookup tableto convert the data field to the second language; and in response toreceiving a request to access the data field from the second user, sendthe second user an indication of the converted data field.
 16. Acomputer-readable storage medium having a physical structure, havingcomputer-readable instructions for managing an online user profile that,when executed upon a computer, cause the computer to perform operationscomprising: receiving, from a first computing device data indicative ofan achievement having been earned corresponding to the user profile, theachievement having been earned locally at the first computing devicewhile the first computing device was not logged into an online gamingservice provided by a third computing device; modifying the online userprofile for the online gaming service to reflect the achievement havingbeen earned; updating the online user profile with data received for afirst game in an online gaming service-defined schema of an onlinegaming service; updating the online user profile with data received fora second game in the online gaming service-defined schema; storing theonline user profile in a database; and in response to receiving arequest from the user at a second computing device to access the onlineuser profile, sending the user an indication of the online user profileat the second computing device.
 17. The computer-readable storage mediumhaving a physical structure of claim 16, wherein user gaming informationis stored in the online user profile as at least one data field, andwherein said online user profile indicates that one of the at least onedata fields is editable only if the user accesses the online userprofile from the first computing device.
 18. The computer-readablestorage medium having a physical structure of claim 16, wherein thefirst computing device comprises a personal computer, a gaming console,a web site, a personal digital assistant, or a cellular telephone. 19.The computer-readable storage medium having a physical structure ofclaim 16, wherein the user is a first user, and further comprisingcomputer-readable instructions that, when executed upon the computer,cause the computer to perform operations comprising: sending anindication of the online user profile of the first user to a seconduser.
 20. The computer-readable storage medium having a physicalstructure of claim 19, further comprising computer-readable instructionsthat, when executed upon the computer, cause the computer to performoperations comprising: detecting a first language associated with theonline user profile of the first user and a second language associatedwith the second user; detecting a second user selection of a data fieldwithin the online user profile of the first user; accessing a lookuptable to convert the data field to the second language; and in responseto receiving a request to access the data field from the second user,sending the second user an indication of the converted data field.